“No.” I wasn’t going to hold her back. With Kyle out of the picture, she’d finally be free to follow her dreams and become the woman she was meant to be.
“What do you mean ‘no’?” Her mouth tipped up at the corners in an almost-there smile. “I just told you I love you, andI heard you say you love me too. Neither one of us expected this, but how is it a problem?”
I pulled back and slid my hands down her arms until I caught both of her hands in mine. “Kyle won’t bother you again. Now’s your chance to be free. I’m not going to stand in your way, sweet girl. You’ve spent too much time focusing on making other people happy. It’s your time now.”
“Oh, I get it. You think I won’t want you now that I don’t need you to protect me? Is that it?” Her eyes narrowed and she squeezed my fingers together.
“That’s not what I mean. Damn, Brooklyn. I can’t find the right words.”
Her palms moved to my cheeks. I wanted to pause time and spend the rest of my days just like this… with her hands on my skin, close enough to have the intoxicating smell of her perfume surrounding me and staring up at me with more love than I ever thought possible shining in her bright blue eyes.
“You don’t need to find the right words. There are only three little words I want to hear from you right now, but only if you mean them.” She stilled, waiting to see if I had the balls to say it to her face.
“I…” Fear tightened its cold grip on my heart. It was one thing to tell my brother how I felt about her, but I’d never said those three little words to anyone except maybe my mom when I was still a kid.
Brooklyn tilted her head back and arched a brow. It was now or never.
“I love you, Brooklyn.” Nodding, I lifted my hands to cup her cheeks as well. “I’ve never felt this way before, and I don’t know what the fuck to do about it.”
“You silly, silly man. All you have to do is let me in. Let me love you and love me back in return.”
She made it sound so easy. “But Kyle was right. You do deserve better. I’d be a selfish prick for holding you back.”
“Hey, don’t talk that way about the man I love.” Her hand slid behind my neck, and she pulled my head down until our lips touched.
Kissing her before was surreal. Kissing her now—after we’d both admitted how we felt about each other—took everything to a whole new level. There weren’t enough years left in my lifetime to get my fill of her.
The side door to the building slammed shut, and I reluctantly dragged my attention—and my lips—from Brooklyn to look up.
“There you are, sugar.” Ruby waved us over from where she’d stopped right outside the door. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
I didn’t know if she meant me or Brooklyn, but when Ruby summoned someone, it was always in their best interest to give her their attention. With my arm resting on Brooklyn’s shoulders, we headed her way.
“I heard about what happened at the bank building this morning,” Ruby said.
“Yeah,” I scrubbed my palm over the back of my neck, prepared to take the heat. “I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll be looking into it.”
“Lucky for you, I know exactly what happened.” Ruby pushed her glasses back up on her nose. “Don’t think for a second I’m going to let you take the fall for your brother.”
“But…” I had questions. Like how the hell did Ruby have any idea what went down on a jobsite after hours.
She smiled. “Just because that building isn’t used as a bank anymore, doesn’t mean they disconnected the cameras. You’re a good person, Levi, but a terrible liar. I’ve got Kyle and some other unidentifiable man on video replacing those bolts lastnight. I’m prepared to show it to the sheriff and anyone else who wants to accuse you of cutting corners.”
Brooklyn shrugged off my arm and wrapped Ruby in a hug. “Thank you, Ruby.”
Stunned, I struggled to pull myself back together. With actual proof of Kyle’s involvement, I wouldn’t lose my job or my reputation. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll stop by the Merc tomorrow morning. I’ve got a proposition I want to show you from a very good friend of mine. He’s interested in providing the financing for you to strike out on your own. We need someone we can count on to help us fight against that developer trying to take over our town.” The sun peeked out from behind a cloud and Ruby lifted her hand to shade her eyes. “Well? Will you stop by?”
Brooklyn nodded. “He’ll be there.”
“Good. I need to get back in there before Orville sneaks a second piece of cake. I love that man with my whole heart, but he has the willpower of a gnat when it comes to sweets.” She patted my arm. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Around eight?”
I finally found my voice. “Eight works, but nine would be even better if that’s not an imposition.”
“Nine, then. See you tomorrow.” She waved before disappearing back inside.
“That was unexpected,” I said.
